What are the schools like in Alma, AR?

Alma is served primarily by ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Alma?

The median household income in Alma, AR is $46,273 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.2%.

What is the weather like in Alma, AR?

Alma has an average high temperature of 49.3°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.1 inches.

Alma, AR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alma, AR affordable or expensive?

Alma's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alma is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $178,300 and the median rent is $802 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alma, AR?

Alma has a violent crime rate of 446.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1040.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alma, AR a Good Place to Live?

Alma is a small town of 5,837 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $46,273 and a 7.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

Strengths: Alma stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alma is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alma city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 85.1

Alma's overall cost of living index is 85.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alma costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alma, AR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$178,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$802	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,273	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Alma's violent crime rate is 446.1 per 100,000 residents — 17% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

446.1 /100k

Property Crime

1040.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alma is served primarily by ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alma, AR	National Avg
School District	ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alma sees average highs of 49.3°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 50.3 inches of annual precipitation and 4.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alma, AR
Average High — January	49.3°F
Average High — July	91.6°F
Annual Precipitation	50.3"
Annual Snowfall	4.1"

Demographics

Metric	Alma, AR	National Avg
Population	5,837	—
Median Age	26.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	38.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rudy, AR 3 mi Dyer, AR 4 mi Kibler, AR 5 mi Mulberry, AR 8 mi Van Buren, AR 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Alma

Alma, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

72921

Alma vs Other Cities

Alma, AR vs Rudy, AR Alma, AR vs Dyer, AR Alma, AR vs Kibler, AR Alma, AR vs Mulberry, AR Alma, AR vs Van Buren, AR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alma, AR affordable or expensive?

Alma's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alma roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $178,300 and median rent is $802/month.

What is the crime rate in Alma, AR?

Alma's violent crime rate is 446.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1040.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alma?

Public schools in Alma are operated by ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alma, AR a good place to live?

Alma, AR has a population of 5,837, a median household income of $46,273, and an unemployment rate of 7.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alma?

Alma averages 49.3°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.3 inches with about 4.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alma?

Alma, AR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 72921.

What is the population of Alma?

The population of Alma, Arkansas is 5,837 with a median age of 26.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alma?

Key numbers for living in Alma: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $178,300, median household income $46,273, crime index 90 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alma side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.